Saturday, May 13, 2017

Sunday, April 30th was close to perfect for racing in Dedham MA. It was a little sunnier and windier than ideal but those are quibbles. Temperatures were in the
mid-50’s, a
good day for racing made great by the individual performances. Martin Hanley, Race Director for the James Joyce Ramble, aided by Steve Vaitones, USATF-NE, did a great job of assembling a sterling Championship field. The
Championship recorded 232 finishers, a 10K record, with 99 of them, another
record, turning in a National Class performance or better, and earning elite
performance medals.

US RecordThe most impressive performance was that of Sabra Harvey, who broke World Masters Track records at Perth last
year, taking gold in the 800 and 1500 meter runs. The current holder of the
42:37 10K record for Women 65-69, the 68 year old Harvey is running so well she
was able to lower that record, set here at Dedham two years ago, by over half a
minute. Her new record of 42:04 is especially remarkable because the course
here is definitely not flat and fast; it is best described as rolling hills
rather than hilly, but there are real hills.

Age Grading ChampionshipNot only did Harvey break the American record, her performance
age-graded at 103.56%. Anything over 100 exceeds the existing standard for World’s
Best performance. The remainder of the Age_grading podium consisted of Jan Holmquist,72, who ran 48:01 for a
96.59%,

Jan Holmquist, looking fresh as she crosses the finish line with a 96,6% Age grade Score for 2nd place at the 2017 USATF Masters 10K Championship

and Edie Stevenson, 67,who
turned in a 44:20 time for 96.56%. I am not sure when Stevenson last ran without turning in a World Class performance of 90% or better but last year she broke 90% in every Championship she entered and so far this year too.

Edie Stevenson running strong to the finish to take 3rd place in Age-Grading at the 2017 USATF Masters 10K Championship

Age-grading prize money went five-deep. Marisa Sutera Strange, 53, ran 37:55 for a 93.73%, and Laura Bruess, 56, who ran 40:51 for 90.33%. Strange is just as consistent as Stevenson and Bruess has now turned in outstanding performances in both Virginia Beach and Dedham.Sabra Harvey 103.56% Jan Holmquist 96.59% Edie Stevenson 96.56%Nat Larson, 54, with 33:30 for a
92.80%, Kristian Blaich, 50, 32:58
for 91.13%, and Derrick Staley, 58, a
35:51 for 89.84%, comprised the Age-Grading podium for the men. Larson is always a safe bet in Age-Grading, as is Blaich when he is healthy.

Nat Larson crosses the finish line just before teammate, Kent Lemme, nailing 1st and 5th place in the Age-Grading competition at the 2017 USATF Masters 10K Championship

Nat Larson crosses the Finish Line just before teammate, Kent Lemme-1st and 5th in Age-Grading at the 2017 USATF Masters 10K ChampionshipStaley does not travel far afield for Championships but he has always put up strong numbers here in Dedham and in Syracuse when he makes it. The other two prize winners were: Tom Bernhard, 65, who ran 38:17 for 89.80%, and Kent Lemme, 50, who ran 33:32 for 89.59%. Bernhard is still on the comeback trail; he normally scores well over 90%.

Tom Bernhard, from the East Bay of San Francisco, strides to the finish line and his 4th place Age-Grading Prize at the 2017 USATF Masters 10K Championship

For Lemme, this is his second consecutive World Class performance, at the 8K in Virginia Beach and here at the 10K.

Nat Larson 92.80% Kristian Blaich 91.13% Derrick Staley 89.84%

Overall Race ChampionshipThe early stages of the Men’s overall race was marked by a battle
royal between David Angell and Derrick Jones. Angell would gradually
create a small gap

David Angell (L) leading Derrick Jones early in the race at the 2017 USATF Masters 10K Championship

and then Jones would attack, perhaps surging up a hill to
take the lead. But then Angell would gradually reinsert himself at the front
and the process would repeat itself.After
the 5 mile mark, Jones had little left, as Angell pulled away for a dominating
win in 32:37.The chase pack of Ryan
McCalmon of the B.A.A., Kristian
Blaich, the 2015 winner, and Frankie
Adkins, of the Asheville (NC) Running Collective stayed strong and close. When their duel heated up over the final 500 meters, they found their speed carrying them up and past Jones, who had little left after giving everything for the win. In the shake-out over the
last 200 meters, it was McCalmon taking 2nd in 32:55 with Blaich claiming the third spot on the podium in 32:58, followed by Adkins in 33:01, and Jones in 33:04.

Ryan McCalmon (foreground) and Kristian Blaich digging for the finish and 2nd and 3rd place overall at the 2017 USATF Masters 10K Championship

Just off the pace were: Greg Putnam in 33:12, Ryan Carrara in 33:23, Aaron Totten-Lancaster, of the colorful sunglasses, only 1 second back in 33:24, followed by Christopher Magill and Harry Stants, rounding out the top ten in 33:26 and 33:28. Also winning at the Masters 8K Championship at Virginia Beach in
mid-March, Angell notched his 2nd Masters Road Racing Championship
in a row. Only 5 seconds separated 6th from 10th-talk about a wild sprint to the finish-Wow!David Angell 32:37 Ryan McCalmon 32:55 Kristian Blaich 32:58

On the women’s side,
local newcomer, Ginger Reiner, of Running Lincoln MA, running for Craft Concept, was able to
gradually pull away from Holly Ortlund to
take the Overall win by 18 seconds in 37:11.

Ginger Reiner closes in on the finishing line and the Overall Win at the 2017 USATF Masters 10K Championship

Ortlund, who finished 5th
at the 5K championships last year, finished strong, avoiding any
possible late surge by defending Champion, Marisa Sutra
Strange. Ortlund seems to be running better than ever.

Holly Ortlund finishes off strongly to ensure her Second Place finish at the 2017 USATF Masters 10K Championship

Strange won last
year in 36:48. Unable to match that on Sunday, she was nonetheless
able to win a tight duel with Cassandra
Henkiel for the final spot on the podium, 37:55 to 37:58. After Henkiel's 37:58, it was a half minute back to Christin Doneski in 38:32 to round out the top 5. Sixth through tenth included: Heather Webster 38:34, Mary Zengo and Mimi Fallon, both at 39:10, Mary Pardi 39:32, and Diana Bowser only 5 seconds back in 39:37. Only a minute and five seconds between 5th and 10th so there must have been quite a tussle over the final mile with some moving up and others gamely holding on-great racing!Ginger Reiner 37:11 Holly Ortlund 37:29 Marisa Sutera Strange 37:55

Men 40-44This division went the way of the Overall Race, with David Angell winning in 32:37, followed
by Ryan McCalmon in 32:55, and Frankie Adkins in 33:01. Ryan Carrara and Aaron Totten-Lancaster raced across the line in 4th
and 5th only 1 second apart in 33:23 and 33:24! And they needed every second because Christopher Magill and Harry Stants, both of the BAA, were 3 and 4 seconds back, respectively. No coasting into the finish in that race!David Angell 32:37 Ryan McCalmon 32:55 Frankie Adkins 33:01

Women 45-49Cassandra
Henkiel just missed the podium for
the Overall Race but she still went home to Austin Texas a National Champion; she
claimed the gold medal for this division in 37:58. Next across the line was Christin Doneski of the local Whirlaway Racing Team in 38:32,
followed exactly one minute later by ‘Down-Easter’ Mary Pardi who also cracked 40 minutes.Forty seconds later, Leslie Charles claimed 4th with Tracey Vanatta another 50 seconds back in 5th.Cassandra Henkiel 37:58 Christin Doneski 38:32 Mary Pardi 39:32

Men 45-49Derrick Jones could not match Angell in the Overall Race.Jones gave everything for the Overall win but though he was unsuccesful, he at
least went home knowing he had defeated several very fine runners to take the
age division win. Greg Putnam and Jonathan Frieder both cracked 34 minutes
and Putnam was closing fast on Jones at the end. Jones took first in 33:05, with Putnam 2nd
in 33:13, and Frieder 3rd in 33:35. Putnam ran 5 seconds faster a
year ago but that got him not only the age group 2nd place that he
repeated this year, but 3rd place overall; the field this year was
very strong. Whirlaway’s Joe Navas
ran 34:09 to finish 4th with Atlanta TC’s Brent Fields 21 seconds back in 5th.Derrick Jones 33:05 Greg Putnam 33:13 Jonathan Frieder 33:35

Women 50-54As in past years, Marisa
Sutera Strange took this age group title without being pressed. Although
off her usual standard, her 37:55 was still well over a minute ahead of her
closest pursuers. But Mary Zengo and
Mimi Fallon were focused on their
own duel, so close that, at the end, they recorded the same 39:10 time, with
Zengo awarded the 2nd place finish and Fallon 3rd. Lots of drama on East Street as those two approached the finish line! They had 48 seconds over the 4th place finisher, Holly Madden of Whirlaway.Marisa Sutera Strange 37:55 Mary Zengo 39:10 Mimi Fallon 39:10

Men 50-54Kristian
Blaich’s 3rd place overall
translated into an age division win.But
with competitors like Nat Larson and
Kent Lemme in the field, it is never
easy. At the 8K in Virginia Beach, Lemme took 2nd age division to
Larson’s 3rd.Larson turned
the tables on his teammate, Lemme, by running a 33:30 for 2nd as
Lemme settled for 3rd two seconds back. Gregory Picklesimer, from the Somerville Road Runners, a local club,
clocked a 34:17 for 4h place.Kristian Blaich 32:58 Nat Larson 33:30 Kent Lemme 33:32

Women 55-59Laura Bruess of Athletics Boulder returned to the Rocky Mountains
with the age division gold medal that had eluded her at the 8K Championship in
Virginia Beach. Her 40:51 gave her a comfortable lead heading into the finish line.Lyn Malloy and Lorraine Jasper had quite the battle
for 2nd with Malloy pulling away to claim 2nd in 42:29
with Jasper ten seconds back in 3rd. Margaret Sloan ran 43:38 to finish 4th with Lesley Hinz only 3 seconds back. That must have been quite a sprint to the finish line!Laura Bruess 40:51 Lyn Malloy 42:29 Lorraine Jasper 42:39

Men 55-59Derrick
Staley from New York’s Willow Street
Athletic Club, regularly graces the podium at these Championships. This year he
took it one step further and took the gold medal in 35:51. John Sullivan took 2nd in 36:54, with last year’s age
group winner, Mark Reeder, in 3rd
9 seconds back. The last two years, Reeder and Brian Pilcher have battled for
10K supremacy, with Reeder winning last year in 34:56. But not this year; Pilcher is injured, enjoying an Elliptigo tour
in Europe, and Reeder is off his usual form.

Derrick Staley 35:51 John Sullivan 36:54 Mark Reeder 37:03

Derek Staley sprints to the finish line and his National Championship Win for Men 55-59 at the 2017 USATF Masters 10K Championship

Women 60-64The Atlanta Track Club had the podiumin this division all to themselves. Margaret Taylor took the win in 48:00,
with Cynthia Williams 2nd
in 48:24, and Mary Richards 3rd
in 48:31. Do not think they had it easy, though, Liberty AC’s Alda Cossi was only 4 seconds back from
Richards in 4th. There could be no letting up until past the finish line,
that is for sure.Margaret Taylor 48:00 Cynthia Williams 48:24 Mary Richards 48:31

Men 60-64John Barbour of the Greater Lowell Road Runners, who finished second to Rick Becker last year in 38:06, moved a litttle faster this year to take first in 37:43. He needed that speed as Dan Spale and Kyle Hubbart,
of the Boulder Road Runners, were close behind. Spale
was 2nd in 37:56, with Hubbart only six seconds back in third place.
GVH’s Gary Radford was 40 seconds
back in 4th, followed by Reno
Stirrat in 5th.John Barbour 37:43 Dan Spale 37:56 Kyle Hubbart 38:02

Second to Rick Becker in 2016, John Barbour storms to victory in the Men's 60-64 Division at the 2017 USATF Masters 10K Championship

Women 65-69This is a division like no other. Edie Stevenson is a top age grader and an amazing runner.
Ordinarily she would dominate her age group. But there are two other women in
the age group who are world class. Kathy
Martin decided to run the MOVE Half Marathon for women in New York on the same
day and ran faster than the current American record. Had she run in Dedham she would have beaten Stevenson
but she still might not have won. Sabra
Harvey has defeated her on the track and at Club XC this past year. And
Harvey was entered and took down her own American record as noted earlier in
this story. So despite age-grading well over 90% again, Stevenson could only
take 2nd in the Age Group. Harvey won it in 42:05. Two minutes later
Stevenson came across the line in 2nd with a time of 44:28. It would
be over 4 minutes before the next competitor would come across the line. Karen Durante took 3rd in
48:37. Cindy Ingalls was 4 minutes back in 4th.

Sabra Harvey 42:05 Edie Stevenson 44:28 Karen Durante48:37

Men 65-69William
Dixon won this division regularly until
3 new guys joined the group this past year. Dixon joins the 70-74 group this
year but there is no way he was going to give anyone a free pass. He made sure
they earned it, clocking a 40:11 which age-graded to 88.99%. And earn it they
did. Tom Bernhard, still getting
back up to speed after knee surgery in December had plenty in the tank and
enjoyed a wider margin of victory than last month in Virginia Beach. His 38:17
gave him well over a minute margin over Peter
Mullin, who took 2nd as at Virginia Beach, in 39:37, with Doug Bell 19 seconds back in third, but that gave the Boulder Road Runners M60+ team three runners under 40 minutes. A half minute behind Dixon, Kirk Larson took 5th. Had you looked up a minute and 20 seconds later you would have seen Larson's Atlanta teammate,Jerry Learned, and John Hirschberger hurtling toward the line at full tilt. In the end Learned prevailed by 2 seconds!Tom Bernhard 38:17 Peter Mullin 39:37 Doug Bell 39:56

Women 70-74Perennial age division winner, Jan Holmquist, improved on her 2016 performance, hitting the finish
line in 48:01. Although nowhere near her record pace of 45:22 when she set the
American record on this course two years ago, the time was nearly a minute
faster than last year’s time. Linda
Zavalick took 2nd in 1:06:01.Jan Holmquist 48:01 Linda Zavalick 1:06:01

Men 70-74A quarter mile into the race I (Paul Carlin) noticed Jim May pass me on my left and settle in a few strides ahead. May had won the 8K Championship 6 weeks earlier with a13 second edge, and I was thinking, "Oh no, here we go again!" And I hoped the other main contenders, Marc Bloom, Jan Frisby, and Richard Kutzner, were out of sight behind me, not ahead. In the second half mile I noticed another M70 runner in what looked like GVH gear but I could not figure out who he was. I learned later that it was a new teammate of May's named Tony Gingello. A quarter mile later I hadpassed
them both and hoped that was the last I would see of either of them. If so I would have successfully defended my 10K Championship from last year when I ran 42:19. I learned later that Gingello had been gradually closing the gap I had created. I saw him with about 200 meters to go when he raced by in full stride. I picked up my pace and for a brief moment saw that I was closing the gap but then Gingello seemed to get a second (or third?) wind, and pulled away for a 5 second win.

Tony Gingello sprinting to the finish line and the Men's 70-74 National Championship at the 2017 USATF Masters 10K Championship

Gingello won in 44:55; I got another silver medal to go with the 8K medal from March. May was not able to keep pace in this
highly competitive group as he had an Achilles issue due to a Cross Country
skiing mishap in late March. Richard
Kutzner passed May shortly after I did and was able to come home in 3rd
in 45:56. Marc Bloom and Jan Frisby followed in 46:15 and 46:32 to take 4th and 5th.Tony Gingello 44:55 Paul Carlin 45:00 Richard Kutzner 45:56

Women 75-79Kathleen
Scotti, the oldest women’s competitor
at the Championship, took this category unopposed in 1:25:33.Kathleen Scotti 1:25:33

Men 75-79John Noyes, of Kennebunk Maine gradually pulled away from Hal Bennett to take the honors in this
division with a time of 47:55. Bennett took second in 48:28, followed by Denny LeBlanc in 3rd in
52:45. Three minutes later Robet Sullivan of Brookline, MA. came across in 4th. The term, 'Boston Irish' still has some credence as he was one of four Sullivan's to finish this Championship 10K.

John Noyes 47:55 Hal Bennett 48:28 Denny LeBlanc 52:45

Men 80-84William Riley of
the New England 65+ Runners Club and Harry
Carter, of the B.A.A., have apparently locked horns many times over the
years and Sunday was no exception. Both 80, they finished only 14 seconds apart
with Riley taking the honors and the Championship this time in 53:04, and Carter taking the Silver Medal in 53:18. Lawrence Cole took the honors as the oldest competitor of the day
at 83 and ran 1:13:30 to earn the Bronze medal.

William Riley 53:04 Harry Carter 53:18 Lawrence Cole 1:13:30

TEAMS

Note: In USATF Road Races,
each team may have up to 5 runners but the fastest 3 runners for each team have
their times added up, with the lower total team time winning.

Women 40 and
Up The main contenders were the Atlanta Track Club, the Dirigo RC from Maine, the Genesee Valley Harriers from upstate NY, and the local Whirlaway Racing team. Holly Ortlund came in a minute ahead of the field, giving Atlanta the early lead. Whirlaway's Christin Doneski came in next but only 2 seconds ahead of GVH's Heather Webster. A minute later Dirigo's first runner, Mary Pardi, came in. Sixteen seconds later, the first of the 2nd team runners crossed the line, Atlanta's Kathy Wiegand, giving Atlanta a solid lead. GVH's Wakenda Tyler came in just 12 seconds ahead of Whirlaway's Holly Madden, but that was enough to put GVH ahead by ten seconds in what looked like the race for 2nd place.

Wakenda Tyler, a key runner in GVH's Team Gold Medal in the Women's 40+ Division at the 2017 USATF Masters Championship

Dirigo's Kelly Brown, ran well but could not move Dirigo up. GVH's Tracey Vannatta, was the fastest of the #3 runners; her 44:04 was fast enough to get past Atlanta in the final tally, the team winning by just 19 seconds.

First Place Winners in the Women's 40+ Team Division at the 2017 USATF Masters 10K Championship

Dirigo RC's Women's 40+ Team with their Thiird Place Plaque at the 2017 USATF Masters 10K Championship

72-year old, Jan Holmquist, brought it home for Whirlaway's W40+ team. but could not get them onto the podium. Other teams competing included: Western Mass Distance Project, Greater
Lowell Road Runners, and Tri-Valley Front Runners.

Men 40 and UpThe Atlanta
Track Club came with their best team in years and the B.A.A. countered in turn. Ryan McCalmon gave the BAA the early lead by coming in 3 seconds ahead of Atlanta's Kristian Blake. Fifteen seconds later Greg Putnam gave the Central Mass Striders the early claim on the Bronze medal. With 46 seconds on Willow Street AC's Jake Stookey and another ten on Whirlaway's Joe Navas, it was looking good for the final podium spot. The BAA and atlanta had the first two team spots nailed, but who would take the crown.

Aaron Totten-Lancaster trying to stretch his lead over his BAA rivals-Every second counts! He helped the Atlanta Track Club to 2nd place in the Men's 40+ Team Division at the 2017 USATF Masters 10K Championship

When Atlanta's Aaron Totten-Lancaster came in 3 seconds ahead of the BAA's Christopher Magill, the two teams were technically tied but Magill's teammate, Harry Stants, was headed for the finish line stride for stride and crossed just 1 second after Magill.

Christopher Magill (R) and Harry Stants (L) bringing it home for the BAA Men's 40+ Team, Winners of the Division at the 2017 USATF Masters 10K Championship

With only 33 seconds between their first and 3rd runners, the BAA had a tight, swift pack, just what is needed to claim the Gold medal. Atlanta's Brent Fields ran great, cutting almost two minutes off his 2016 time. But with that kind of opposition, winning the Silver medal was quite an accomplishment!In the battle for the final podium spot, Whirlaway's 2nd runner, Dave DeChellis, closed things up quite a bit on CMS's Joshua Perks, leaving only an 8 second lead. Willow Street was now all but out of it, over a minute back. The next runner across the line was Whirlaway's Brad Klinedinst, 8 seconds ahead of CMS's David Principe. So it was a team time tie. (Try that for an elocution exercise!) But USATF rules provide a tie-breaker. The rule used to be to compare 1st runner to 1st runner, 2nd to 2nd and 3rd to 3rd, and give the win to the team with the most 'wins' in the comparison. But the current rule is simple and, in this case, awards the victory to the same team. Just look at the time of the last scoring runner, 3rd in this case, and give the win to the team with the faster time for that runner. Whirlaway makes the podium with Central Mass Striders in 4th. A great race for Gold and an even tighter race for the Bronze; that's icing on the cake.

Women 50 and
UpThe Athena Track Club left nothing to chance. Marisa Sutera Strange gave her teammates nearly 4 minutes to work with but her two reliable colleagues, Lorraine Jasper and Julie Pangburn each added more than a minute to the final margin of victory.

GVH and the New Balance Tampa Racing Team battled for Silver. Michelle 'Shelly' Allen ran a terrific 1st road 10K but it was not enough for the lead as Kathleen Hayden gave GVH a 23 second lead.

Shelly Allen sprints for the tape, helping her New Balance tampa team to 2nd place in the Women's 50+ Division at the 2017 USATF Masters 10K Championship

NBT's Lesley Hinz was next across the line; her 28 second bulge over GVH's Carol Bischoff gave the lead back to NBT. NBT's Captain, Susan 'Lynn' Cooke is still adjusting to the transition from track athlete to road athlete and struggled a bit. Still she had plenty of grit and just enough gas in the tank to make it to the finish line ahead of GVH's Bonnie Lindblom.

Runners for the New Balance Tampa Masters Racing Team-Second Place Winners in the Women's 50+ Team Division [L to R: Shelly Allen, Lynn Cooke, and Leslie Hinz)

That gave NBT 2nd and GVH 3rd. The Liberty AC was 6 minutes back in 4th, followed by the Western Mass Distance Project, the Tri-Valley Front Runners, and the Heartbreak Hill Striders.

Men 50 and
UpThe Greater Springfield Harriers had a similar experience in this age group, except they have two top runners to set the table. Nat Larson and Kent Lemme were the first two in, only two seconds apart. That only left them 47 seconds ahead of the first runner on the closer pursuer but by the time the 2nd runners came in, the two of them had staked the GSH to a lead of over 5 minutes. Alejandro Heuck outran all of the other number 3 runners to put the lid on it. GSH took the title by over 6 minutes.

GVH, the HFC Striders, and the Somerville Road Runners contested the remaining spots on the podium. Greg Picklesimer got Somerville on the board first among these three with a 40 second margin over Jason Cakouros of the HFC Striders and over a minte on GVH's Mike Nier. GVH is known for packing it up though and with Nier's alter ego, Alan Evans, coming in just 10 seconds later, that flipped the tables. After John Sullivan and Rory Fagan came in for HFC and Somerville respectively, GVH had a 4 second lead on HFC and 1:20 on Somerville. Dale Flanders put the nail in the coffin by coming in more than 2 minutes ahead of the #3 runners for the other two teams.

GVH's Men's 50+ Team, 2nd place in their Team Division at the 2017 USATF Masters 10K Championship (L to R-Mike Nier, Theodor Schnaufer, John Van kerkhove, and Dale Flanders)

Chris Kelly came in well ahead of Somerville's Mike Quinn to finish off HFC's Bronze Medal effort. GVH's 'B' team, the BAA and the Greater Lowell Road Runners came in 5th, 6th and 7th.

Men 60 and
UpIt is tough to beat the Boulder Road Runners. Their
top runner, Dan Spale, finished only 13 seconds behind Greater Lowell's John Barbour, the top runner in the age group. Kyle Hubbart, Boulder's 2nd runner, came in 6 seconds later. At that point Boulder had nearly 2 minutes on Greater Lowell, despite a terrific run by Bill Dixon, in his last few months in the age division. Boulder's third runner, Doug Bell, gave them a third runner in under 40 minutes, something none of the other teams could match. That gave the Gold Medal to Boulder by 4 minutes.

The Boulder Road Runners, winners of the Men's 60+ Team Division at the 2017 USATF Masters 10K Championships (L to R-Kyle Hubbart, Doug Bell, Dan Spale, and George Braun)

A strong performance by John Barbour, the first runner for the Greater Lowell Road
Runners, gave them a minute lead over GVH; the 2nd runner for GVH, Kevin Clinefelter, cut into the lead but could not eliminate it; Greater Lowell's Ken Goodin slammed the door by coming in 9 seconds ahead of GVH's Bill Beyerbach. Given the competition it was no small feat for GVH to claim the Bronze medals.

They were able to edge a tough Shore AC team by a minute despite strong runs from Reno Stirrat, Kevin Dollard, and Patrick Gaughan. The Heartbreak Hill Striders finished third but were almost an hour behind Shore.

Men 70 and
UpGVH dominated this division. The only runner from another team who could stay with GVH's top 3 was Paul Carlin from the Ann Arbor TC. But he was the only runner on his team to come in under 55 minutes. GVH had three runners under 50 minutes, Tony Gingello, Liam Finnigan, and Jim May; they took the crown by more than ten minutes!

Two-Thirds of GVH's Winning M70+ Team Along with their Fan Club (L to R- Tony Gingello, Jim May and fans)

Ann Arbor TC did not factor in the race for the remaining podium positions.The New England 65+ Runners Club ‘A’ team
brought three runners, Robert Knight, Clayton Zeke Zucker, and David Pember, across the finish line between 50:21 and 52:27; that was
enough for 2nd place. Their ‘B’ team brought three runners, Hal Bennett, Bill Riley, and Robert Sullivan, across
the line between 48:28 and 55:24, allowing them to take 3rd place
ahead of the Atlanta TC, the North Shore Striders and Ann Arbor.

The New England 65+ Runners Club took 2nd and third place in the Men's 70+ Team Division- This is the 'A' Team that took 2nd (L to R- Joe Noonan, Dave Pember, Zeke Zucker, Bob Knight, and Richard Paulsen)

The James Joyce Ramble 10K and the USATF-NE organization do a tremendous job of turning out so many New England teams; it generates a great competitive spirit and is the heart and soul of this 10K Masters Championship.

ELITE PERFORMANCE MEDALS

Age-Grading is the
statistically-based procedure developed by Alan Jones
[http://www.runscore.com/Alan/AgeGrade.html] using the data base of Ken
Jones on World Best Performances [http://www.arrs.net/] to provide a
level playing field for awarding excellent running performance across
all ages of Masters Runners. A World's Best is projected for each single
year of age and commonly run distance (both road racing and track but
the road racing procedure gets much more use). If the World's best for a
given distance and age is 40 minutes and your time is 44 minutes, then
your age grade is (roughly) (40/44)*100 or 90.91%. If your time is 48
minutes, your age grade is (40/48)*100 or 83,3%. [This is just an
intuitive explanation. For technical details see Alan Jones's site.]
This is the second year that USATF Masters LDR Committee is awarding
Elite Perfomance medals to all athletes who achieve the standards: WORLD
CLASS--90% and above (Gold); NATIONAL CLASS--85%-89.99% (Silver); and
NATIONAL CLASS--80% - 84.99% (Bronze).

A record 99 runners ran National Class times and qualified for an Elite Performance Medal. They are listed below in order of Age-Grading percentage.GOLD: Sabra Harvey, Edie Stevenson, Marisa Sutera Strange, Nat Larson, Kristian Blaich, Laura Bruess, Mary Swan

These are my unofficial tabulations for 'mythical' awards that are not currently offered by USATF--perhaps some day.

OVERALL WINNER GRAND PRIX (for
the Masters Grand Prix Circuit)Recall
that those who finish in the top 5 overall positions in the race earn
points--10-6-4-2-1. Afterthe First Two Events of 2017, the USATF XC Championship in Bend OR and the USATF 8K Championship in Virginia Beach, the standings were:

Old Pals, Mike Anderson (R) and John Barbour(L) from Barbours days in georgia before the move to New England,

Harry Carter and Bill Riley, longtime rivals now in the Men's 80-84 Division

Heather Webster with her award and her post-race sustenance, with Paul Carlin [left background] announcing, and right background, USATF LDR Division Chair, Mike Scott handing a medal to Mary Rosado, Masters LDR Chair, with Steve Vaitones in the cap, USATF-New England's Master of All Trades

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PHOTO CREDITS: Scott Mason's watermark appears in the lower right-hand corner of his photographs. To peruse more of his photographs from the 10K Championship, please direct your browsers to: http://www.scottmasonphoto.com/RUNNING-2017/James-Joyce-Ramble-2017-USATF-National-Masters-10k/

Credits with no watermark were posted by USATF-New England on their Facebook page.
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The next recap will be for the USATF Masters Half Marathon Championship.